Our pastor had been teaching on the gifts of the Spirit. He had already taught on the gifts of Word of Wisdom and Word of Knowledge, and today he was teaching on the gift of Faith, distinguishing it from saving faith or a measure of faith, but calling it "great faith."
He began describing some of the characteristics of a person with this gift, being usually visionaries, positive thinkers, fervent and confident in their prayers, expectant, missionary minded and several other qualities. "You can hear it in the way they talk, the way they think, and the way they pray," he continued.
Every time he mentioned a criterion, I thought, "Howard." They really did fit him, although he would never say that about himself. Later, my granddaughter said she thought, "Grandpa" to everything the pastor said.
As the pastor concluded his sermon to the attentive and interested audience, he made a surprising statement. "I'm just going to say it. There are two people in our church that I believe have the gift of faith. They are my wife and Pastor Howard."
That was confirmation! Then he called for Howard to come and stand in front and invited people who wanted prayer for any reason to be prayed for by himself and Pastor Howard. (His wife was home with sick children.)
Probably a dozen people went forward. First the pastor prayed for them, then Howard prayed for them in turn. It was very moving to see them weep and rejoice as they felt the touch of the Spirit.
Howard went on to serve in several other churches, now making his home in Heaven, as I remember and cherish this remarkable man and servant of God, my husband.
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